Evaporator



Nov. 10, 1953 R. H. MONEY 2,658,35

EVAPORATOR Filed Feb. 17, 1949 2 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR.

l2oland H. Money R. H. MONEY EVAPORATOR Nov. 10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Feb. 17, 1949 Fig. 5

INVENTOR. Qoland H. Money BY I m MQLM [/3 Affomey Patented Nov. 10, 1953EVAPORATOR Roland H. Money, Mount Healthy, Ohio, assignor to ArtkraftManufacturing Corporation, Lima, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio ApplicationFebruary 17,1949, Serial No. 76,990

The present invention relates to evaporators for refrigerating systemsand more particularly to evaporators comprising a single duct, that is,a duct having a plurality of runs, all of which are connected in seriescircuit relation.

In evaporators of that type and particularly when the evaporator isformed into a cooling unit such as the standard U-shaped cooling unit,uneven defrosting of the evaporator occurs during the off phase of thecycle of operation of the refrigerating system because vaporizablerefrigerant is exhausted in a large part of the duct first to receivethe vaporizable refrigerant. This defrosting causes a flow of water anda refreezing of the water, at the lower part of the evaporator wherebyan excessive amount of ice is built up along the bottom of one side ofthe evaporator and this ice functions as an insulator to impair theefficiency of the refrigerating system.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a reservoirfor liquid refrigerant for the refrigerating duct of the evaporator andthrough which all refrigerant passes before it enters the duct, and toconnect the inlet end of the duct with the reservoir above the bottomwall of the reservoir so that during the off phase of this cycle, liquidin the form of heavy vapor and foam of a mixture of oil and vaporizablerefrigerant will be supplied to the duct whereby the upper part or inletend of the duct is maintained colder during said 01f phase.

Another object of the present invention is to dispose a water absorbentin the inlet reservoir for the purpose of absorbing any water ormoisture in the system which may have been admitted during theassembling of the system or which may inadvertently leak into thesystem.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention isclearly shown.

in the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the improved evaporator;

Fig. 2 is a side view looking in the direction of arrow 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view looking in the direction of arrow 3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the evaporator comprises two sheets of metal2| and 22. These Walls are bent to form uprights 23 and 24 which 2Claims. (Cl. 62126) are connected by a bottom wall 25 and these wallsprovide a cooling or freezing compartment 21. If desirable, arefrigerated shelf 28 may be suitably secured between the uprights 23and .24.

The sheets 2| and 22 are provided with bulged portions at the upper endof each of uprights 23 and 24. The bulged portion 30 of sheet 2|complements the bulged portion 3| of sheet 22 and the bulged portion 33of sheet 2| complements the bulged portion 34 of sheet 22. The bulgedportions 30 and 3| cooperate to form an outlet reservoir 35 and thebulged portions 33 and 34 cooperate to provide an inlet reservoir 36. Aserpentine shaped bulge 31 is formed in the outer sheet 22 comprising aplurality of vertically extending runs 38, in the vertically extendingportion of the sheet, and horizontally extending runs 39, in the bottomwall of said sheet. The serpentine bulge 31 includes the elbow portions4| in the vertically extending portion of each sheet. Sheet 2| issuitably secured, as by welding or hydrogen brazing, with sheet '22along the edges of the sheet and also preferably about the bulge 31. Thebulge 31 and sheet 2| cooperate to form a serpentine shaped passage. Theoutlet end 42 of the serpentine passage is connected with the reservoir35 by an inwardly bulged portion 43 on the inner sheet 2|. The innerbulged portion 30 of sheet 2| is connected to a tube 45 by a coupling46. The tube 45 in turn is connected in the low pressure side of arefrigerating system. Reservoir 35 provides ample space for thegasifying of any liquid and heavy vapor which passes thereto from theserpentine passage 31 whereby only gaseous refrigerant is delivered tothe compressor of the system.

The inlet end 48 for the serpentine passage 38 is connected to the upperportion of the reservoir 36. The lower portion of the bulge 33' stopsshort of the inlet connection 48 so as to provide a dam 5|! whereby theliquid refrigerant is maintained at the level indicated.

A drier or water absorbent such as silica gel is contained in acartridge such as the screen bag 5| and this bag is disposed within thereservoir 36. Water which accidentally enters the system, will beabsorbed by the absorbent.

The shelf 28 may be formed of two pieces of metal and formed with aserpentine passage in the same manner as described in connection withthe serpentine passage in the U-shaped evaporator. Liquid refrigerant isdelivered to the shelf through a pressure reducing element connectedbetween the condenser and the evaporator such as a capillary tube 52.The refrigerant 3 after passing through the passage in the shelf, isconducted by a tube 53 to the reservoir 36, there being a coupling 54provided for connecting the tube 53 with the reservoir 36.

At the end of the on phase of the refrigerating cycle, a quantity ofliquid refrigerant will be contained in the reservoir to substantiallythe height indicated. During the "08 phase of the cycle, the storedrefrigerant in the reservoir 36 will boil and heavy vapor or refrigerantand oil in the form of foam will be fed to the inlet of the evaporatorand this will continue until the supply within the reservoir 36 isexhausted. The reservoir 36 is of sufliclent size so. that duringsubstantially the entire off phase of the cycle of refrigeration, somerefrigerant will be fed to the evaporator whereby cooling continues andthus minimizes the uneven melting of the frost on the evaporator.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed constitutes a preferrcd form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope. of the claimswhich follow.

I claim:

1. A U-shaped evaporator for a refrigerating system including wallsforming a U-shaped cooling chamber and a continuous serpentine ducthaving a plurality of series connected runs on each of the upright andbottom walls, said runs each having a portion extending vertically ofthe upright walls and transversely across said bottom wall, a supplyreservoir for supplying refrigerant to the duct, said reservoir beinghorizontally disposed adjacent the upper end of one of said uprightwalls and above the duct and said duct being connected with thereservoir above the '4 bottom of the reservoir; and a water absorbentdisposed in the evaporator, said water absorbent comprising a quantityof silica gel and being disposed exclusively in said supply reservoir.

2. A U-shaped evaporator for a refrigerating system including wallsforming a U-shaped cooling chamber and a continuous duct having aplurality of vertically disposed runs on each 01' the two upright wallsand a plurality of horizontal runs on the bottom wall, said plurality ofhorizontal runs each being connected in series between the vertical runson the two upright walls and said vertical runs on each upright wallbeing connected in series at their upper ends, a. supply reservoir forsupplying refrigerant to the duct, said raervoir being horizontallydiaposed adjacent the upper end of one of said upright walls and abovethe duct and said duct being connected with the reservoir above thebottom of the reservoir; and a water absorbent disposed in theevaporator, said water absorbent comprising a quantity of silica gel andbeing dis: posed exclusively in said supply reservoir.

ROLAND H. MONEY.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,809,833 Davenport June 16, 1931 2,143,171 Anderson Jan. 10.19.30 2,217,257 Money Oct. 8, 1940 2,266,983 Money Dee. 23,.18412,306,772 Benson Dec, 29, 1952 2, 71,215 Benson Mar. 13, 19 2,430,692Touborg Nova 21, mm

